Daily Gospel Reflection
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March 16, 2020
Jesus said to the people in the synagogue at Nazareth, “Truly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in the prophet’s hometown. But the truth is, there were many widows in Israel in the time of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, and there was a severe famine over all the land; yet Elijah was sent to none of them except to a widow at Zarephath in Sidon. There were also many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian.”
When they heard this, all in the synagogue were filled with rage. They got up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they might hurl him off the cliff. But he passed through the midst of them and went on his way.
“No prophet is accepted in his hometown,” Jesus tells his hometown crowd. Then they try to throw him off a cliff – immediate proof of Jesus’ theory. A dramatic reaction, sure, but nobody likes to be told they’re not good enough.
What’s the point of insulting and alienating his base?
On the flipside of Jesus’ lesson is this important point: prophets bring good news to people who aren’t from their own small tribe or hometown. Prophets cross the borders that divide us and welcome those most in need, no matter who they are.
This theme comes up a lot in Luke’s Gospel, most famously in the parable of the Good Samaritan. Two Jewish religious leaders pass by the beaten man on the side of the road, but a Samaritan traveler stops and cares for him. Samaritans and Jews were enemies, and the idea of a good Samaritan would have been shocking to Jesus’ followers. Unthinkable.
But for Jesus, there is no “other.” Each person, without exception, is created in God’s image and likeness. We muck up God’s vision for the world when we create systems that discriminate based on gender, race, age, ethnicity, religion, or any other trait.
Who needs your prophetic voice of welcome this Lent?
Maybe someone who slips into the back pew at Mass, alone. A relative who has done something hurtful to the family. The woman asking for change you see on your way to work. Or a part of yourself buried deep inside that you’re ashamed of.
Inspired by Jesus, we are called to leave “home” – what is comfortable and familiar – to spend time with those who are left out.
Prayer
Lord, how easily we label those who are not part of our little group of like-minded souls, or those who upset the nice comfortable status quo, or those who are—to put it gently—different. Forgive us, Father, for we do not know what we do. We say we want to be close to you, to listen to you, yet we deliberately shut out those through whom you might be speaking to us, or channeling your grace and help. Our heads and hearts see the folly in this, but our fear keeps us holding “them” at arm’s length. Help us, please. Amen.
Saint of the Day
The relics of St. Julian were a powerful aid to prayer in the ancient world. The great “golden-tongued” preacher, St. John Chrysostom, used St. Julian’s life and example as a model for his congregations. Julian’s relics were known to be helpful in exorcising evil spirits.
Julian was a senator from Cilicia, which is in modern-day Turkey. He was arrested in 305 during a persecution of Christians and was subjected to many kinds of torture. He was even paraded around the region for a year as an example to other Christians. He was finally killed by being sewn into a bag full of snakes and scorpions and dumped in the sea. Whether or not this actually happened or is an exaggeration is difficult to tell, but suffice it to say that he suffered and met a painful death. His body was somehow recovered and transferred to Antioch.
One thing is clear: the people of Antioch in the fourth century had a very real and vigorous devotion to St. Julian, and relied upon his intercession. Antioch depended upon water travel for commerce, so perhaps his intercession was sought for sailors and those braving difficult voyages. After all, no voyage could be as terrible as one with snakes and scorpions for sailing companions. Some of St. Julian's relics rest in the reliquary chapel of the Basilica of the Sacred Heart on Notre Dame's campus.
St. Julian of Antioch, you were killed by being sewn into a bag full of snakes and scorpions—pray for us!
Image Credit: Our featured image of St. Julian of Antioch is in the public domain. Last accessed February 6, 2025 on Wikimedia Commons.
